Locked emergency alarm station



Nov. 3, 1964 c. E. s. REEVES 3,154,937

LOCKED EMERGENCY ALARM STATION Filed Dec. 13, 1962 //7 1/6/7 for Char/es 5 Graham Ree ves By Ms affameys United States Patent 3,154,937 LOQKED EMERGENCY ALARM STATIQN Charles E. Graham Reeves, Summit, N..l., assignor to Falcon Alarm Company, Inc, pringfield, N1, :1 corpuration of New Jersey Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244,331 8 (Zlairns. (Cl. 70-63) This invention relates to alarm stations and more particularly to a tamper-proof emergency alarm station comprising a box containing an alarm device such as a power-operated portable horn which is normally locked in the box and inaccessible to: tampering, but which is available in case of need by manually forceable opening of the cover.

It is desirable to have alarm devices stationed visibly at strategic and convenient points in buildings and elsewhere which are quickly available to use in case of an emergency, but which will normally be kept enclosed and unavailable to prevent tampering and to maintain the device clean and ready for emergency use at any time.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tamperproof emergency alarm station in which an alarm device is visibly contained within a container which is transparent in whole or in part, the cover of which is normally kept sealed but can be forceably opened manually Without tools to obtain quick access to the alarm device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm station of the foregoing type which may be economically manufactured and assembled from few easily fabricated or available parts, but which will be reliable in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a normally locked alarm station of the foregoing type to which access may be obtained by a key for the purpose of inspection or replacement of the alarm device at any time without damage to the station or any part thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the invention is described in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an alarm station embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded detail View of the frangible rod and breaking member employed in the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, a box body it) of a generally rectangular shape, has a cover 12 thereon, both being made preferably of transparent molded plastic material. The cover may be substantially fiat with its central portion depressed and fitting snugly within the edges of the open front of the box and having a periphoral or marginal flange 16 adapted to rest upon the edges of the box.

For the purpose of grasping the cover to manually re move it from the box forceably or otherwise as will hereinafter be more fully explained, tabs 114 are preferably provided on the top :and bottom edges of the box. The box is normally mounted in a vertical position, that is to say with its longer side edges vertical and is attached by any suitable conventional means to a wall or other surface.

Within the box, a conventional alarm device, such as a power-operated horn as described in the C. E. Graham Reeves Reissue Patent 24,730, is placed in upright position. The box is dimensioned so as to conveniently receive such a device and to allow the device to be removed from the box quickly and easily.

The device as described in said Reeves patent consists of a cylindrical container 2i) containing compressed or liquefied gas. On top of the container is mounted a diaphragm-type horn 24 which is adapted to be operated digit-37 Patented Nov. 3, i954 ice by the manipulation of a lever 22 of a control Valve in the connection between the horn and container.

As illustrated, the portable horn may be conveniently held in one hand while the lever is operated by a finger to give an audible signal of considerable power.

After the horn has been placed in the box, the cover is placed over the open front of the box. In order to maintain the cover and box in sealed condition, but to permit access in case of emergency, an arrangement of parts as follows is provided. A U-shaped bracket within the box is secured against the inside surface of the back wall of the box by any convenient means such as by screws or bolts. The bracket may conveniently be made from a stamped sheet metal bar bent into U-shape providing arms 31 and 33 extending from the back toward the front of the box parallel to the side walls of the box.

In each of the arms 31 and 33 near the ends thereof and, thus, near the front of the box is provided an oblique inciined notch directed upwardly and toward the rear of the box. These notches 32 are aligned and cradle the end portions of a transverse rod 34 of plastic or other frangible material. The rod has a reduced portion 35 at its middle which, thus, weakens the rod for breakage as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Engaging with the reduced midportion of the rod 34 is one arm of the cruciform member designated generally by the numeral 48. This member is preferably formed from two bars of sheet metal riveted, soldered or otherwise suitably secured transversely together in the form of a cross. One bar of this member has an end 41 adapted to extend through a slot 18 in the cover. The slot is preferably of size to slidably receive the end 41. The other end 42 of this bar extends inwardly toward the rear of the box and has an oblique notch near its end directed downwardly and toward the cover in position so that the notch 43 may embrace the reduced midsection of the rod 34.

The other bar 48 of the cruciform member extends edgewise and longitudinally with respect to the cover, inside the cover with one edge flush against the inner surface thereof. Thus, when the notch 43 is engaged or embraced around the reduced midportion 35 of the rod 34 and the cover is placed over the box, the arm 41 of the cruciform member will extend through the slot 18.

In order to secure the parts in this position, there is provided in the outwardly extending arm 41 an aperture through which the hasp of a padlock 54 may pass.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that with the cover off the box, the portable power-operated horn may be placed in the box. Then the rod 34 may be placed with its ends lying in the notches 32 of the arms 31, 33 of the U-shaped bracket 3%. Thereafter, the cover may be placed on the box with all of the cruciform member inside except the arm 41 which extends through the slot 18 in the cover. In placing the cover on the box, the cruciform member may be tilted slightly so that after the cover is fully engaged over the front of the box, the notch 43 in arm may be caused to engage with the rod 34 by re turning the cruciform member to the position as shown in the drawing wherein it is normal to the cover of the box. Now the hasp of the padlock 15' may be inserted through the aperture 49 in the arm 41am locked.

in such condition, as is illustrated in the drawing, the cover cannot be removed from the box because the hasp of the padlock prevents sliding of the cover along the arm 41; nor can the cruciform member be tilted to disengage the notch from the rod 34, because the arm 48 prevents such tilting. In case of emergency, the cover tabs 14 may be grasped and force exerted tending to separate the cover from the box. This force causes breaking of the fran ible rod 34. Thus, the cover is forceably separated from the box and the power-operated horn becomes accessible.

The alarm station may be reassembled by replacing the power horn in the box (ordinarily with a new full container replacing the partially used or empty container) and substituting a new unbroken rod 34 for the broken one, and reassembling the parts as previously described.

When it is desired to open the box for insepection of the horn or for other reason, the padlock is unlocked and its hasp removed from the aperture in the outwardly extending arm 4-1. It is then possible to remove the covor without breaking the rod 34 by simply sliding the cover along the outwardly extending arm ll; or, alternatively, the cruciform member may be pushed in slightly and tilted upwardly slightly to disengage the notch 4-3 from the rod 34 whereupon it is possible to move the cover forwardly away from the box.

Modifications within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the precise form and arrangement as illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. An alarm station comprising a box adapted to receive a portable alarm device, said box having a body and a cover engaged with the body but removable to give immediate access to said alarm device,

frangible means held within the box body,

holding means carried by the cover and engageable with said frangible means,

means to secure said holding means to the cover to prevent removal of the cover from the box body except on application of manual force sufl'icient to break said frangible means, said holding means being formed to hold the cover on the box when said securing means is in place and being formed to permit removal of the cover while the holding means remains engaged with said frangible means when said securing means is absent. 7

2. An alarm station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means is a key-operated lock manually operable to permit removal of the cover wtihout breaking of said frangible means.

3. An alarm station as claimed in claim 1 in which the holding means comprises a member partly within the box and engaging with said frangible means and partly outside the box, said securing means being outside the box and engaging said outside part of the holding means to prevent said removal or" the cover from the box body except on application of sufiicient force to break said frangible means.

4. An alarm station as claimed in claim l wherein the frangible means is a rod having a weakened section, and said holding means engages said rod adjacent said weakened section.

5. An alarm station comprising a box adapted to receive a portable alarm device, said box having a body and a cover engaged with the body but removable to give immediate access to said alarm device,

i A frangible means held within the box body, holdingmeans partly within and partly outside said box insertable through a slot in said cover and em gageable with said frangible means, securing means outside the box engageable with the outside portion of said holding means to prevent inward withdrawal of said holding means while said securing means and holding means are engaged, and means on said holding means preventing separation of the holding means from the frangible means while said securing means is engaged with said holding means. 6. An alarm station as claimed in claim 5 wherein said securing means is a key-operated lock manually op erable to permit removal of the cover while the holding means remains engaged with said frangible means without breaking of said frangible means.

7. An alarm station comprising a box adapted to removably receive a portable alarm device, said box having a body and a cover engaged with the body, a bracket secured in the body, a frangible rod positioned transversely of the box and supported by said bracket, a cruciform member within said box and engaged with said rod and having a portion extending through the cover, said extending portion having an opening for a locking device, a locking device inserted through said opening and hold- ,ing said cover against removal'from said body, said locking device being removable to permit sliding of said cover frontwardly along said extending portion and separation of the cover from the body, said cruciform member engaging said frangible rod to allow said cover to be removed from the body on application of merely manual force suilicient to break the rod.

8. An alarm station comprising a box adapted to removably receive a portable alarm device, said box having a body and a cover engaged with the body, a bracket secured in the body, a frangible rod positioned transversely of the box and supported by said bracket, a holding member within said box and engaged with said rod and having a portion extending through the cover, said extending portion having an opening for a locking device, a locking device inserted through said opening and holding said cover against removal from said body, said locking device being removable to permit sliding of said cover frontwardly along said extending portion and separation of the cover from the body, said holding member engaging said rod to allow said cover to be removed from the body on application of merely manual force sufiicient to break the rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,057 Taylor June 11, 1889 956,005 Voight Apr. 26, 1910 2,822,451 Holmes Feb. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 603,445 Great Britain June 16, 1948 

1. AN ALARM STATION COMPRISING A BOX ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PORTABLE ALARM DEVICE, SAID BOX HAVING A BODY AND A COVER ENGAGED WITH THE BODY BUT REMOVABLE TO GIVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO SAID ALARM DEVICE, FRANGIBLE MEANS HELD WITHIN THE BOX BODY, HOLDING MEANS CARRIED BY THE COVER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FRANGIBLE MEANS, MEANS TO SECURE SAID HOLDING MEANS TO THE COVER TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE COVER FROM THE BOX BODY EXCEPT ON APPLICATION OF MANUAL FORCE SUFFICIENT TO BREAK SAID FRANGIBLE MEANS, SAID HOLDING MEANS BEING FORMED TO HOLD THE COVER ON THE BOX WHEN SAID SECURING MEANS IS IN PLACE AND BEING FORMED TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF THE COVER WHILE THE HOLDING MEANS REMAINS ENGAGED WITH SAID FRANGIBLE MEANS WHEN SAID SECURING MEANS IS ABSENT. 